Drink mixer



W. LUXMORE DRINK MIXER Filed Oct. 21, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet l mam I J wAprfl 30, 193.

W. LUXMORE ]l,99,4

DRINK MIXER Filed Oct. 21, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 III/AZ April 3 0) 1%35.LUXMORE 1,999,542

DRINK MIXER Filed 001;. 21, 1932 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 WW Z zamiwre PatentedApr. 30, 1935 DRINK MIXER William Luxmore, Chicago, 111., assignor ofonehalf to Albert G. McCaleb, Evanston, Ill.

Application October 21, 1932, Serial No. 638,844

12 Claims.

This invention relates to a drink mixer in which a motor driven stirreris provided for the purpose of agitating the ingredients to blend sametogether.

One of the objects or" the present invention is to provide a mixer inwhich the duration of the stirring or agitation is automaticallycontrolled and terminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mixer of this type inwhich the duration of the stirring or agitation can be adjusted at will.7

A further object of the invention is to provide a drink mixer in whichthe stirring mechanism is adapted to descend to bring the stirrer intothe drink and is adapted to ascend again when the mixing is completed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mixer having signalmeans for indicating termination of the stirring or agitation of thedrink.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved mixer whichis adapted to be started manually in a convenient manner after the cuphas been located upon the mixer.

Other objects, advantages, and capabilities of the invention will appearfrom the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which there are sevensheets, and in which Figure l is a front elevation of a mixer embodyingmy invention in initial non-operative position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing the mixer in operative position, theinitial non-operative position being indicated in dash and dot lines;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the mixer in initial non-operativeposition, the rear cover plate being removed to show the internalmechanism;

Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the mixer in operative positiontowards the end of the stirring or agitation;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of the upper portion of the mixer,partly in section, and on a larger scale, the section being taken on theline 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an elevational sectional detail view taken on the line 6-5 ofFig. 5, showing the clutch and motor elevating mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line l? of Fig.3;

Fig. 8 is a sectional plan detail View taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of the sliding motor carriage removed from themixer, together with stationary contact elements carried by the standardor the column;

Fig. 10 is an elevational detail view showing the manner by which aquick break is made by one of said contacts;

'Fig. 11 is a sectional plan detail taken on the line |Ill of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional detail taken on the line 12-5 2 of Fig. 5,showing the manner in which the motor is mounted on the carriage andcontacts for the motor established;

Fig. 13 is a sectional plan detail taken on the line I3--I3 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 14 is-a sectional plan detail taken on the line M-M of Fig. 9;

Fig. 15 is a sectional detail View taken on the line l5i5 of Fig. 4,showing the time control mechanism of the mixer;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line I 6| 6 of Fig. 15, showingthe time-control mechanism;

Fig. 1'7 is an inverted plan detail view taken on the line l'l-l'l ofFig. 15;

Fig. 18'is a sectional detail taken on the line l8- l3 of Fig. 16, on anenlarged scale;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary elevation showing the time control knob lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows til-49 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 20 is an elevational section, showing the interior mechanism ofanother embodiment of the invention, in which the time of mixing iscontrolled by an escapement mechanism;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary rear elevation thereof with part of thestandard broken away;

Fig. 22 is a sectional plan View taken on the line 2222 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary rear View, with the rear cover partly brokenaway, of still another embodiment of the invention, in which theduration of agitation or stirring is controlled by means of anadjustable brake mechanism;

' Fig. 2% is a vertical sectional detail taken on the line 24-24 of Fig.23, and

Fig. 25 is a sectional plan detail taken on the line 25-25 of Fig. 24.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 19inclusive, the embodiment of the invention illustrated therein comprisesa base which may suitably be provided with a depending skirt, from whichproject feet 3! of rubber or other suitable material. The base 36supports a vertical column or standard 32 which is hollow and serves asa housing for mechanism hereinafter described.

The column 32 is preferably located towards the rear of the base 30 soas to leave room for the usual cup 33 to be supported upon the frontpart of the base. The base is provided with an upwardly projectingflange 34 for holding the cup in proper position. The forward edge ofthe base 3E1 is recessed, as indicated at 35, so that the cup can morereadily be introduced into, and removed from stirring position.

The column 32 is preferably rectangular in cross section and its frontface, which is fiat, is provided with a vertical slot 36. The rear faceof the column 32 is closed by means of a removable panel 3'! whichengages suitable abutments 38 provided on the side walls of the columnand is secured to bridge pieces 39 connecting said side walls, forexample, by suitable screws. The upper end of the column is closed by acap 4t, also held in place by suitable screws. On each side of the slot36 the face of the front wall of the column 32 is provided with abearing strip 48 which is adapted to receive corresponding portions ofthe sliding carriage hereinafter described.

The lower end of the column 32 is bridged by means of a plate M securedto the under side of the base 3;). The plate il carries angle irons 42which provide support for a pivot 43 upon which is rigidly secured apair of arms 44. These arms extend downwardly and forwardly, theirforward ends being located on either side of, and in close proximity tothe cup position as defined by the flange fi l. These forward ends ofthe arms 4t carry pins z'i which project upwardly through openings 53 inthe base 38. The pins 45 carry at their upper ends keys or buttons 4? sothat one or the other can conveniently be pressed downwardly by handwhen the cup has been or is being placed in operative position.

One of the arms A l is pivotally connected to a rod t9 which extendsupwardly through the column 32, its upper end being pivotally connectedto a lever 5t (Fig. '7) mounted by a pivot 5! on one of the side wallsof the column 32, at a suitable elevation. At its upper end the lever isprovided with a sloping cam surface 52, the purpose of which willhereinafter be described. The rod rigidly carries a collar 53 (Figs. 3,4 and especially 5) which provides an abutment for a coil spring 56, thelower end of which bears against a lug 55 carried by the plate 4| at thelower end of the column 32. The spring 54 tends to move the rod 49upwardly, thus keeping the keys 4? normally in an elevated position. Thespring 54 is assisted by a spring 56 associated with the lever 59 andits pivot 5| so as to tend to keep this leverjin non-operative position,that is, the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8. With reference to Fig. 7,it will readily be understood that when either key di is depressed, thelever 50 rotates in counter-clockwise direction and the sloping surface52 moves towards the left.

A dashpot cylinder 5'! is rigidly mounted on the plate ii and extendsvertically within the column 32. Near its lower end the cylinder 5'! isprovided with a small orifice 58 which permits air to exhaust and enteras the piston 59 moves downwardly or upwardly. The piston 59 isconnected to a piston rod 58 which is connected to the movable carriagehereinafter described. Alongside the dashpot cylinder 5? is anothervertical cylinder tilikewise supported on the plate 45 and likewiselocated within the column 32. The cyl inder 6i operably receives apiston 62 which will hereinafter be more fully described. Adjacent itslower end the cylinder iii communicates through an opening 63 with aconduit fi l (Figs. 3, 15 and 16) which connects with a fitting 55rigidly mounted on the face of the column 32 and having a sleeve 66projecting through an opening therein. The fitting 65 is provided at theinner end of the sleeve 66 with a metering orifice 6?, the efiectivesize of which is adapted to be controlled by means of a needle 66carried by a button 69 which has a threaded mounting on the inside ofthe sleeve 66. A coil spring 19 is provided within the sleeve 66 whichtends to move the button 69 and the needle 68 outwardly. The sleeve 66is provided with an opening I! to permit the passage of air which flowsin either direction through the metering orifice 5?. It will readily beunderstood that the adjustment of the needle '68 controls the effectivesize of the orifice 6i and thereby controls the rate of movement of thepiston 62 in the downward direction.

In order to indicate the setting of the button 69, which controls theduration of the agitation V or stirring performed by the mechanism, aswill hereinafter be described, I prefer to provide the a button 69 witha pointer 12. This pointer is preferably of resilient material andcooperates with notches in the outturned flange 73 of a circular plate14 secured to the front of the column 32 around the sleeve 65. I alsoprefer to apply legends, as shown in Fig. 19, so as to indicate visuallythe setting of the mixer for short, medium and long stirring periods.Also adjacent its lower end the cylinder 6! is provided with a by-pass75 which connects an opening 76 close to its bottom, with an opening Tlat a higher point. The purpose of this by-pass will be explained inconjunction with the description of the piston 62. As will hereinafterappear, the piston 62 and cylinder 6! have a time-controlling function,and in order to' avoid irregularities in timing, due to communication ofvibration from the motor to the cylinder M, I prefer to mount thiscylinder upon the plate 41 by means of a bolt 18, with the aid ofsuitable cushioning fabric 1.9, as shown in Fig. 18.

The piston 62 comprises a sleeve into the lower end of which is presseda stout plate 85. An elongated cylindrical shell 82 is pressed over theupper end of the sleeve 86 so that the exposed surface of the sleeve 88is of reduced diameter so that a cup 83 of leather, or other suit-. ablematerial, can be applied thereto, being secured in position by suitablemeans, for exa.

ple, a wire 84. The cup 83 projects downwardly and is pressed againstthe wall of the cylinder 6! by means of a relatively heavy rubber ring2-5, of appropriate dimensions. I have found that the ring 85 isremarkably efficacious for this purpose, forcing the cup 83 against thewall of the cylinder 6| in a highly satisfactory manner and producing avery effective seal.

A piston rod 86 is connected to the plate 35 and the whole piston isbrought to a suitable weight for the exercise of its functions by meansof a lead filling 81 poured into the sleeve 82. The piston rod 86 at itsupper end carries a head 88, the lower surface of which is provided witha downward projection of V shape, the purpose of.

which will hereinafter be referred to. It is sufficient here to statethat this shape of the head 86 maintains the piston 62 against rotationin the normal operation of the machine. The sleeve 82 is provided with avertical channel 8Q which communicates with the opening '1]. Thisalignment is insured by the means for preventing rotation of the piston62 referred to above. It will be noted that when the piston rod 86 isreleased, in the manner hereinafter to be described, the piston 52 willfall gradually, the rate of fall depending upon the setting of thebutton 69 and the needle E58. When, however, the channel 89 is broughtinto register with the opening ll, the air below the piston can passfreely through the by-pass and channel 89. Consequently, the descent ofthe piston 62 is accomplished in two stages, the first being a slowfalling at a rate dependent upon the setting of the button E9, and thesecond being a relatively precipitate drop owing to the weight of thelead filling 8'! and the relatively open passage for the escape of theair then enclosed below the piston 82. The advantageous result derivedfrom this feature will hereinafter be explained.

Within the column 32 and at a slight distance from its front face, Iprovide a pair of transverse bridge members Sii and ill upon which Imount a vertical rack 92, that is, a rack which is parallel to the frontwall of the column 32. The teeth of the rack 92 are directed rearwardly,as shown in Fig. 5. In order to facilitate assembly I secure the bridgemember 9! permanently to the side walls of the column. The upper bridgemember lll'is supported by having its ends received in slots provided insmall plates 93 soldered or otherwise securedto the inner faces of thesides of the column 32. The lower end of the rack 92 is secured to thebridge member 9! by means of a screw. The upper end of the rack ispermanently secured to the bridge member 953. To install the rack it ismerely necessary. pass the rack into position so as to bring the ends ofthe bridge member 99 into the slots referred to, and to secure the lowerend of the rack to the bridge member 9!. As will hereinafter appear,this is done with a certain relation to the parts of the movablecarriage.

Electrical energy is supplied to the motor carriage by means of twospring contacts 94 and 95 (Figs. 10 and ii) which are supported by apiece of insulation d3 (Figs 3 and 4) carried by the bridge member M.The contacts 9 and 95 will be described in greater detail in connectionwith their relation to the sliding carriage. They are electricallyconnected to the conductors of a cable 9'! by means of which the mixeris connected to any suitable outlet.

The motor it drives the stirrer shaft 99 which is provided with asuitable stirring or agitating means tilt at its lower end. The shaft 99ex tends downwardly from the motor and in the initial non-operativeposition the stirring means iilt is at an elevated point with respect tothe base so that the cup 33 may readily be slipped into position. Theapplication of the cup to the base is facilitated by the depression orrecess in the front edge of the base as.

The motor 98 is mounted on a carriage it! shown in Fig. 9. This carriagecomprises an outer plate 582 which is provided with integral Wings 193bent to conform to the shape of the motor, these wings being providedwith openings whereby the motor is bolted thereto. Above and below thesewings, the plate H32 is sufliciently wide to overlie the bearing strips48 on the front face of the column 32. The plate N12 is connected byrivets or the like to plates led and 985. The plate its is substantiallythe same width as the slot 35 and is located therein in the assembledmixer. This plate is substantially the same length as the plate H32,said length being such that the necessary movement of this plate in theslot 3% may take place, Plate Iii? is wider and longer so that itprojects on either side beyond the plate Hit so as to provide a bearingsurface engaging the rear face of the front plate of the column 32 oneither side of slot 36. This plate is substantially longer than theplates I92 and H14, extending downwardly therebeyond so as to close thelower part of the slot 35 when the motor carriage is inits elevatedposition. It will readily be seen that the three plates I32, I94 and H35assembled in this manner form a carriage which is adapted to slide uponthe front wall of the column 32.

A housing Hi8 is secured to the plate I02 adjacent its upper end, thishousing being adapted to overhang the motor 98. This housing contains alamp holder it! adapted to receive an incandescent lamp 593 of elongatedtype. This lamp is preferably enclosed within a translucent glassenclosure 589 of suitable decorative shape. As readily seen in 2, thisenclosure and associated.parts are adapted to clear the column duringthe normal movements of the motor carriage in the operation of themixer. A cable Ht extends from the lamp holder through an opening in theplates m2, ltd and 8&5, its conductors being connected to two terminalsHi carried on and insulated from the three plates I02, Hi4 and M5. Theheads of the terminals HI are located on the outer face of the plate H12between the wings !63. These terminals are connected to the motor bymeans of spring pressed studs H2 which are adapted to project outwardlyfrom the motor and engage the heads of theterminals Hi, as best shown inFig. 12. A cable H3 connects the terminals Iii to two insulated metalstrips lid and H5 which are carried upon the plate m2, being mountedthereon by means of a strip of insulation 556. As best shown in Fig. 9,the spring pressed contacts E4 and 95 are adapted respectively to engagethe strips lid and H5. As shown in Fig. 9, the carriage i t! is in itselevated position and the strips H4 and H5 are elevated away from thecontacts 94 and 95 which rest upon a further strip in of insulatingmaterial which lies substantially flush with the surface of the strips IM and H5. The contacts 94 and springy material and are adapted to bearfirmly against the surfaces of the strips i M and H5.

The contact M is provided with a coil or convolution in a plane at rightangles to the plane of the strip Id. The contact 95 is provided with acoil or convolution in a plane parallel to the strip H5, in order torender it resilient in this direction. At its lower end the strip H5 isprovided with a projection Ht which is adapted to engage the end of thecontact 95 and trip same, which in the upward movement of the carriageresults in a quick break of the electric circuit which includes themotor Q8 and lamp 38.

Adjacent the motor 93, the stirrer shaft 93 is provided with a worm H9which cooperates with a gear lit rigidly mounted on a shaft 12fsupported on bearings 522 upon the front plate E82 of the carriage IN.The shaft E25 rigidly carries a smaller gear 123 which meshes with alarger gear 124 freely mounted on a shaft !25 which is capable of alimited longitudinal movement in bearings A26, which are mounted on therear side of the carriage mi. The carriage is provided with a suitableopening 227, best shown in Fig. 9 to accommodate the gears 328 and 24.The gears E29, I23 and worm M9 are enclosed within a housing I28 locatedbelow the motor 98 and secured to the motor carriage MI by suitablescrews. This housing is provided with an opening through which thestirrer shaft 9 extends freely.

95 are made of The carriage II]! on its rear side, carries guides I29which engage the edge of the gear I24 so as to limit its axial movementupon the shaft I25. A pinion Kid is rigidly mounted on the shaft [25,for example by means of a pin. This pinion E3!) is adapted to cooperatewith the rack 92, as best seen in Fig. 3. A clutch plate i3E integralwith the pinion i313 and rigid with the shaft, is located adjacent oneface of the gear I24.

The clutch plate Isl is covered by a suitable material 32 so that it canoperatively engage the face of the gear I24 so that power may becommunicated from the latter to the pinion I30 when the shaft !25 ismoved so as to engage the clutch plate E35 and the gear W4. A lever 533is pivotally mounted on the carriage at I3 1 adjacent one end of theshaft I25. This end of the shaft is reduced and provided with rigidabutments I2? which are engaged by the bifurcated end of the lever 33.The lever I33 is of the irregular shape shown in Fig. 6, for the purposeof clearing the gear !24 and associated parts. Its remote end isprovided with a rearwardly directed bifurcated end I 35 which issubstantially above the center of the cylinder 6!. This bifurcated endis adapted to receive the head 88 of the piston 62 previously described.It will readily be understood that when the weight of this piston isexerted upon the lever M3, the clutch plate lei is strongly pressedtowards the gear I26 so that a frictional driving connection isestablished between these elements. The lever I33 carries a projectionI38 which, in the clutched position of the lever E53, lies in the pathof the cam 52, as best seen in Figs. '7 and 8. When the cam 52 isdisplaced from its normal or initial position by operation of either ofthe keys 4?, it engages the projection I 35 and moves the plate I3i intounclutched position. The piston rod SE is connected to the carriage iiliby means of a lug I3? carried by the latter.

The device above described can very readily be assembled, the carriageand parts mounted thereon being assembled as a unit. The carriage isplaced in position together with the rack 92, the carriage being sliddownwardly with the plate 582 inside the slot 36. In this way the bridgeelernent $3 is slipped into its sockets and the lower end of the rack 92is secured to the bridge member 9! in the manner described above. Thepiston 62 is inserted in its cylinder GI and the head 88 is brought intoengagement with the bifurcated end of the lever I33. The piston rod issecured to the carriage IilI, the back plate 3'! is placed in positionand finally the cap 49 is applied.

The operation of the mixer is as follows. Assuming the mixer to be inthe position shown in Fig. 1, that is, its normal or initial position,the cable 9? being plugged into a suitable outlet, the button 69 isturned to give the desired duration of stirring and the cup 33 isbrought into its position on the base 30. Either of the keys H is nowpressed downwardly by hand which has the effect of actuating the lever56}, bringing the cam 52 into engagement with the projection 53% of thelever I 33. This lever has been held strongly in clutching position bythe weight of the pieton 62. This weight is now relieved and the piston62 is raised slightly by reason of the pressure of the cam 52 upon theprojection 35. Consequently, friction engagement between the clutchplate I 3i and the gear 524 is broken so that the whole carriage, andmechanisms supported thereon, is free to fall downwardly, bringing thestirrer into operativeposition near the bottom of the cup 33, andpreferably at a dis tance offset from the center of said cup. Thisdownward movement is rendered gradual by the dashpot cylinder and piston51 and 59, the air contained within the cylinder being expelled throughthe opening 58.

In the course of its downward movement the projection 536 of the leverI33 moves down below the cam 52, but owing to the fact that the leverI33 moves away from the head 88, the clutch'remains non-operative duringthe subsequent mixing. The piston62 descends gradually within itscylinder 6!, the rate of fall depending upon the setting of the button69. When the opening 11 comes into communication with the channel 89,the-piston 62 falls more rapidly until the head 88 reaches thebifurcated end of the lever I33, rendering the clutch operative. Whenthe carriage Mi has descended a certain amount, the contacts 94 and 95come into engagement with the strips H4, IE5 so that the motor startsand the lamp N38 is lighted.

The rotating stirrer, which has entered the drink in the cup 33' in thecourse of the descent of the motor carriage, continues its stirring oragitation until the head 83 engages the clutch in the manner justdescribed. The effect of the engagement of the clutch is to drive thepinion 36 from the motor 98 through the worm H9, gears I28, I23 and I24,this driving causing the carriage to climb upwardly to its elevatedposition. When the carriage hasascended to a certain extent theprojection H8 of the strip H5 engages the contact 95 and pulls the sameupwardly into the position shown in Fig. 10. Immediately thereafter thecontact 95 springs into the dotted-line position shown in this figureand a quick break of the motor and light circuits is effected. Themomentum of the motor armature and associated parts is sufficient tocontinue the upward movement of the carriage, this movement beingfinally arrested by the engagement of the carriage with the cap 4%.

The engagement of the V-shaped portion of the head 88 with thebifurcated end of the lever i33 maintains the vertical channel 89 of thepiston 62 in alignment with the opening H of the cylinder 6i.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 20, 21 and 22,the base, column and carriage are substantially similar and the similarparts are designated by the same reference numerals as are used in theforegoing description. In this embodiment an escapement control timingdevice is employed instead of the cylinder. 6| and associatedtime-control elements of the embodiment described above. Timingmechanism, which is designated by the reference numeral I38, issuspended by the rod 86 which carries the head 38 at its upper end, saidhead cooperating with the bifurcated end of the lever I33 in the samemanner as in the previously described embodiment of the invention. Thetiming mechanism 538 comprises plates I39 riveted together in spacedrelationship, the rod 86 being secured to one of the rivets. The platesI 39 provide bearings for the elements which will now be described.

A pinion I4!) is rigidly mounted upon a shaft I4 I. Also rigidly mountedon this shaft is a ratchet wheel I42 which cooperates with a springpressed' pawl M3 which is pivotally mounted on a gear I44. The gear I44is freely mounted on the shaft I 4| and is located alongside the ratchetwheel I 42 so that the pawl I 43; engages the ratchet wheel when thesame is being turned in the clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 21,the pawl I43 slipping over the teeth of the ratchet wheel I 42 when theshaft I II is turned in counter-clockwise direction. t lt meshes with asmall gear I 45 rigidly carried on a shaft i i-6 which also carries anescapement wheel Mi. The escapement wheel is adapted to cooperate withpallets of a pallet lever its in the usual manner to oscillate a balancewheel Ififi, the oscillation of which is controlled by a hair spring I5I.

The pinion Mil meshes with a rack I52 which is adjustably mounted at adesired position so as to control the duration of the stirring oragitation of the drink. This rack carries an arm I53 which extendsoutwardly through a slot Hit in the side of the housing. At its outerend the arm I53 carries a handle I55 whereby it can be manipulated. Theexposed portion of the arm I53 carries on each side a plate I 56 havingan inner serrated edge which is adapted to engage a rack I57 of similarcontour secured to the side wall of the column 32 on each side of theslot I 54. As shown in Fig. 21, this side wall is dished in theneighborhood of the slot I54 so that the racks I51 are sunk below thegeneral surface of the side wall. I

A channel member 553 having inturned flanges IE5 is secured to said sidewall and is provided in its central web with a slot Iiiii in alignmentwith the slot I54. The rack 552 is carried by a plate Iti, whose edgesproject on either side beyond the sides of the rack I52. Theseprojecting portions of the plate I62 engage the inner sides of theflange H59. The arm I53 is secured to a plate I63 secured to the back ofthe plate It I. The plate I63 carries at each end a spring I64 adaptedto bear against the central web of the channel I58 so as to force theedges of the plate I6I firmly against the flanges I59 of the channelI56, and thereby maintain the rack E52 in correct operative relationshipwith the pinion Itt. The pitch of the serrations of the racks IE1 is thesame as the pitch of the rack IE2 so that the rack may be pulled awayfrom the pinion I iii and moved longitudinally to a desired position.When the handle I55 is released, the springs I64 will force the rack I52towards the pinion I49 and on account of the similarity of pitch betweenthe racks i 51 and IE2, the latter will be presented to the pinion M6 inmeshing relation. I

The timing mechanism I38 is guided for vertical movement, for example,it maybe providedwith brackets I65 which overlie a vertical guide barI65 which is supported on the column 32 in suitable manner, for exampleby means of brackets I61.

The operation of this embodiment is as follows. The rack I52 is firstadjusted toa desired position, depending upon the duration of stirringor agitation which is desired. The motor carriage IEII is now releasedand descends gradualiy so as to bring the stirrer into the cup. Thisrelease of the motor carriage is eifected by depressing either of thekeys 41. While the downward movement of the carriage is retarded by thedashpot bl, this descent takes the lever I33 away from the head 83 ofthe rod 86. The weight of the timing mechanism I38 is supported by thelever I33 when the mechanism is in its initial non-operative position.Immediately the downward movement of the motor carriage IiiI starts, theweight of the timing mechanism I38 tends to move said mechanismdownwardly, causing the shaft IM to be rotated by the pinion I48.

The rotation of the shaft MI in theclockwise direction, as-vlewed inFig. 2]., causes the escapement wheel I41 to rotate in thecounterclockwise direction, this rotation being controlled by the palletlever I i9 and the balance wheel I58, in known manner.-- The result isthat the descent of the timing mechanism I38 is relatively slow. Whenthe pinion I66 comes to the lower end of the rack I52, the timingmechanism I38 falls rapidly and the head 88 of the rod 86 is broughtinto contact with the forked end of the lever I33, causing the gear I24;to be clutched to the pinion I36, the actuation of said pinion from themotor 96 causing the motor carriage to rise upwardly as previouslydescribed.

-When the motorcarriage has ascended to a certain position the electriccircuit is broken in the same manner as described in connection with thepreviously described embodiment of the invention. During the ascent ofthe carriage I III the pinion I40 again comes in contact with the rackI52 and the shaft MI and ratchet wheel I42 are thereby rotated in thecounter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 21. The pawl I 43 permitsthis rotation without any efiect upon the escapement mechanism. It willreadily be understood that the duration of the stirring or agitationdepends upon the effective amount of the rack I52 which is located belowthe initial position of the pinion I40. From the above description itwill readily be'seen that the adjustment of the rack I 52 upwardly ordownwardly, in the manner described above, will enable the operator tocontrol exactly the duration of stirring or agitation. I

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 23, 2e and 25, afurther form of time-controlling device is employed, the remainder ofthe machine being substantially similar to that of the embodimentsalready described. In this embodiment the rod 86 is connected to a frameI68 which carries a rotatably mounted pinion I69 adapted to cooperatewith a vertical rack I10 rigidly mounted on the plate II. The frame I68comprises a pair of plates Ill and I12 connected together in spacedrelation by suitable rivets. One of these rivets I13 is adapted to bearagainst the rear face of the rack I12 and is provided with a shoulderI14 which is adapted to engage one side of the rack, the other side ofthe rack being adapted to bear against the inner face of the plate I'II.This construction aids in guiding the frame I68 during its ,verticalmovement. The pinion I69 is mounted on a shaft I15 against a brake drumI16 also mounted on the shaft I15, the pinion I69 and drum I16 beingadapted to independent movement. A pawl I11 is pivotally mounted on oneside of the drum I16 and is adapted to engage the teeth of the pinionI69 being pressed thereagainst by means of a spring I18. The pawl I i1is such that it operatively connects the pinion I 69 and drum I16, whenthe pinion is rotated in the clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 23,and permits free rotation of the pinion I69 in the opposite direction.

The drum I16 carries a brake band I19 which is adapted to apply aregulable friction upon the brake drum by means of a suitable brake theframe I68 and serves as a fulcrum for a lever I82. One end of this levercarries a pin I 83 to which the other end of the brake band is secured.The other end of the lever I82 is bent into a horizontal plane, as shownat I84. The bent end I84is provided with an opening through which passesfreely a rod I85 of square or other non-round cross-section. This rodhas a bearing I86 on the plate MI and a second bearing in the cap orcover 88. At its outer end it carries an actuating button I8'I wherebyit may be adjusted to control the duration of the stirring or agitation.

The rod I85 passes freely through a threaded member 1 88 which has anopening of similar cross-section to that of the rod I85 so that theyturn together when the button is rotated. The threaded member I88 has a,threaded engagement in a bracket I89 carried by the frame I86. Below thethreaded member 188 the rod I85 carries a washer I90. Between thiswasher and the bent end I84 of the lever I82 is provided a coil springI9I.

It will readily be understood that by rotating the button I81 thetension on the spring I9I is increased or decreased, and the tension ofthe brake band I'l9 upon the drum I16 is correspondingly increased ordecreased. The tension of the brank band is thus controlled from theexterior and enables the rate of falling of the frame I68, after themotor carriage is released in the manner above described, to be adjustedas desired. The frame I68 is guided by the rack I18 and the rod I85.When it has descended to a considerable extent, the pinion I89 arrivesat a point where the rack has no more teeth and the frame I58 movesdownwardly at an increased rate, thus bringing the head 88 of the rod 86into collision with the forked end of the lever I33, thereby clutchingthe pinion I24 to the plate I3i and effecting the elevation of the motorcarriage and the termination of the stirring in the manner describedpreviously.

The locationof the keys 4'! with respect to the cup 33, when the latteris in operating position, is an important feature of the presentinvention. The said keys are located closely adjacent to the downwardlytapering cup and well below that area of the outer surface of the cup(the area midway between top and bottom) which is grasped by theoperator in manipulating the cup onto and off of its support. Therefore,in the act of placing the cup on its support, the lower edge of theoperators hand directly overlies one or the other of saidkeys,-depending on whether the operator is right handed or left handed.

As soon as the operator releases his grasp on the cup, the lower edge ofhis hand, naturally and without any additional volitional act on hispart,

gravitates against the button which it directly overlies,therebyinitiating the operation of the mixer. Thus, according to my presentinvention, the engagement of a starting key immediately and naturallyfollows the relaxing of the operators grasp on the cup after placementof the latter on its support. The cup, preferably tapering downwardly asillustrated, guides the gravitation of the hand onto the key.

The embodiments of my invention which are herein exhibited, beingintended for use by either right handed or left handed operatorsstanding directly in front of. the mixers, have two keys locatedlaterally of the cup. It is not imperative that more than one key 41 beemployed, nor is it imperative that the key bedisposed laterally of thecup. The essential requirement is that the key be located closelyadjacent the bottom of the ural result of the relaxing of the grasp ofthe- I hand upon the cup.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a drink mixer in which theoperation can be started manually in a very convenient manner and whichcan be set to give the desired duration of mixing. The manner in whichthe stirrer moves downwardly at the beginning of the operation, andmoves upwardly at the end of the operation, render it very easy to placethe cup in position.

It will be understood that immediately the motor starts the lamp islighted. At the end of the time period for which the device is set, thecarriage moves upwardly, the motor stops and the lamp is extinguished.The lamp serves as a signal drawing attention to the fact that thestirring operation is completed and the drink is ready to be served.

Although the invention has been disclosed in connection with thespecific details of preferred embodiments thereof, it must be understoodthat such details are not intended to be limitative of the inventionexcept in so far as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A drink mixer comprising a standard, a motor carriage mounted on thestandard and arranged to drop along the standard when released at anelevated position on the latter, a motor mounted on the carriage, adepending agitator carried and driven by the motor, manually releasablemeans for unlatching the carriage in the elevated position aforesaid,elevating devices arranged to be driven by the motor adapted whenactuated to raise the carriage to its elevated position aforesaid, andtiming devices, functioning pursuant to the falling of the carriage,arranged to place said elevating devices in driven relation to the motorafter the motor and agitator have operated for a predetermined intervalin their fallen positions.

2. A drink mixer comprising a standard, a motor carriage mounted on thestandard for vertical movement thereon, a motor carried by and movablewith the carriage, a depending agitator carried and driven by the motor,a manually releasable latch for holding the carriage at an elevatedposition on the standard, and means operated by the falling of saidcarriage, pursuant to the releasing of said latch, for starting themotor.

3. A drink mixer comprising a standard, a motor support mounted on thestandard and arranged to drop along the standard when released at anelevated position on the latter, a motor mounted on said support, adepending agitator carried and driven by the motor, a station- 'ary cupsupport at the lower portion of the standard, manually releasable meansfor latching the motor support in the elevated position aforesaid,elevating devices arranged to be driven by the motor and adapted whenactuated to raise the motor support to'its elevated position aforesaid,contacts arranged and adapted to complete the motor circuit when saidmotor support drops toward the cup support and adapted to break themotor circuit when said motor support moves upwardly away from the cupsupport, and regulable timing devices, functioning pursuant to thefalling of the motor support, arranged to place said elevating devicesin driven relation to the motor after the motor and agitator haveoperated for a predetermined interval in their fallen positions.

4. A drink mixer comprising. a standard, a

motor slidably mounted on the standard for vertical movement thereon, anagitator carried and driven by the motor, motor elevating devicesnormally out or" driven relation to the motor but arranged to be placedin driven relation to the motor to raise the latter on the standard, areleasable detent adapted to retain the motor at an elevated position onthe standard when driven to such elevated position by its own power, aclutch adapted when operated to place said motor elevating devices indriven relation to the motor, and time-keeping mechanism, placed inoperation by the falling of the motor pursuant to the release of saiddetent, for operating said clutch to place the motor elevating devicesin driven relation to the motor pursuant to operation of the motor initsfallen position for a predetermined time interval.

5. A drink mixer comprising a stationary standard, a motor slidablymounted on said standard for vertical movement thereon, an agitatorcarried and driven by the motor, motor elevating devices arranged to beplaced in driven relation to the motor to raise the motor on thestandard, a clutch adapted when operated to place said motor elevatingdevices in driven relation tothe motor, a releasable detent arranged toretain the motor at. an elevated position on the standard when the motoris driven to said elevated position by its own power, time-keepingmechanism, placed in operation by the falling of the motor pursuant tothe release of said detent, for operating said clutch to place the motorelevating devices in driven relation to the motor, means for disengagingthe clutch when the motor has been driven by its own power to theelevated position aforesaid, and circuit controlling devices arranged toclose the motor circuit during the falling of the motor and to open themotor circuit near the end of upward travel of the motor on thestandard.

6. In a drink mixer, a standard, a motor carried by the standard, anagitator carried and driven by the motor, time-keeping mechanismcomprising a member arranged when released to fall from a relativelyelevated position with respect to the standard, devices forming part ofsaid time-keeping mechanism for determining the descent period of saidmember, instrumentalities carried by the standard and engaged by saidmember to accomplish the stopping of the motor after said member hasdescended to a certain point relative to the standard, devices forelevating said member, devices for retaining said member in elevatedposition preliminary to renewed operation of the motor, and devices forreleasing said member and starting the motor.

7. A drink mixer comprising a standard, a motor carried by the standard,an agitator driven by the motor, time-keeping mechanism comprising amember adapted to fall with respect to the standard, devices foraccomplishing the opening of the motor circuit after said member hasdescended to a predetermined position relative to the standard,elevating devices adapted to raise said member, by the power of themotor, when said elevating devices are placed in driven relation to themotor, devices actuated by said member in its descent for placing saidelevating devices in driven relation to the motor, a releasable detentfor retaining said member at an elevated position to which it is drivenby the power of the motor, and regulable means for determining thedescent period of said member.

8. In a drink mixer, a standard, a motor mounted on the standard forertical movement thereon, an agitator driven by the motor, a rack on thestandard, a pinion driven by the motor, said pinion cooperating with therack to elevate the motor on the standard when the motor is in operationand to hold the motor at an elevated position on the standard when themotor is not operating, a clutch interposed between said motor and saidpinion, means for declutching the pinion from the motor to permit thedescent of the motor from the elevated position aforesaid, circuitcontrolling devices for closing the motor circuit in the descent of themotor, time-keeping mechanism placed in operation by the descent of camotor, and instrumentalities operated by said time-keeping mechanism forengaging said clutch to permit the motor to drive itself to the elevatedposition aforesaid, through said pinion and rack, after the motor hasoperated for a predetermined time interval in its fallen position.

9. A drink mixer comprising a column, a motor carried by the column, adepending agitator driven by the motor, a cup, a support whereon the cupmay be deposited and positioned beneath the agitator, devices foreifecting relative vertical to and fro movement between the support andthe agitator to enable the latter to enter and operate in and recedefrom said cup, and a manually operable device moving in a generallydownward direction for initiating entry of the agitator into the cup,said device comprising a hand-engaging surface which is located near thebottom of the cup, and beneath the hand of the operator, when the cup isbeing deposited on the support, so that the hand or" the operator,guided by the cup side wall, naturally gravitates into contact with saidsurface when the grasp of the hand on the cup is released followingdeposit or" the cup on the support.

10. In a drink mixer, a standard, a motor supported by the standard, adepending agitator driven by the motor, a support whereon a cup may beplaced to have its contents acted upon by said agitator, a downwardlytapering cup, and a downwardly moving manually operable device forinitiating the operation of the mixer, said manually operable devicecomprising a handengaging surface which lies closely adjacent to thebottom of the downwardly tapering cup and beneath the lower edge of anoperators hand in the act of depositing the cup on said support, wherebythe operators hand, guided by the downwardly tapering side wall of thecup, may gravitate into engagement with said surface when the grasp ofthe operators hand upon the cup is relaxed.

11. A drink mixer comprising a base, a column extending upwardly fromsaid base, a motor mounted on said column, a depending agitator carriedby said motor, means for supporting a cup beneath the agitator, saidmotor and supporting means being relatively movable one. toward theother to place the agitator into the cup, and vertically movablemanually actuated means disposed in a vertical plane closely adiaoentthe cup and beneath the position assumed by the operators hand inplacing the cup on the supporting means and arranged to be engaged byand actuated by the dropping of the hand which places'the cup upon thesupporting means, said manually actuated means initiating the entry ofagitator into the cup and the starting of the motor.

12. A drink mixer comprising a standard, a motor supported by thestandard/an agitator driven by the motor, a cup, a cup support whereonthe cup may be placed to have its contents acted upon by said agitator,and a manually H operable starting device for initiating the op- 10eration of the mixer, said starting device com-

